Gideon's Spear (15 page)

“Who's this?” Lochlan murmured. On the other side of Finn, Rafe and Savannah stood poised for action. All four kept their weapons ready.

“I am Iona of the Hills,” the sorceress announced before Finn could answer. She waited a moment, eyebrows raised at the silence that followed. Another moment passed. “The enchantress?”

“Ohhh. Yeah, right. Finn told us about you.” Realization dawned over Lochlan's face. “The witch.”

“Which witch?” Savannah asked.

“The wicked witch,” Rafe muttered.

In spite of the fear beating black wings at him, a corner of Finn's mouth twitched. Squaring his shoulders, he raised his chin. “What do you want with us?”

She gestured at the group. “Are these your friends?”

“Yes.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Finn groaned silently.
Stupid. Real stupid
.

“Excellent.” She began edging closer. Light danced along her arm cuffs. “They'll help ensure your cooperation.”

“Cooperation for what?”

Iona didn't answer. Instead, she raised a hand. A gold thread flowed from her index finger. Using it like a pen, she sketched the same Celtic knot in midair that she had drawn in their back yard weeks ago. Almost immediately, the same voice began singing from the shape, whispering his name in rhythm with the thud of the drum, coaxing him to lower his weapon. Vaguely, out of the corner of his vision, he saw Lochlan stagger a step, arms drooping by his side. His own arms felt like thick, meaty sausages hanging in a deli.

Lifting both hands now, the sorceress wiggled her fingers. Gossamer threads poured from them, as if the tips were unraveling. The lines gleamed as they snaked about in midair and formed a web in front of her. It stretched out parallel to the ground, hovering at head height, waiting for her command. Pursing her lips, she puffed out a soft breath.

Finn's hair blew off his forehead when, in a mighty blast of wind, the web zoomed toward them. It rippled in the sunlight like a net thrown over the water. Finn wondered why he couldn't move. Didn't
want
to move.

His head snapped to one side when someone shoved him. Hard. “Move, you idiot,” Rafe shouted in his ear. Finn blinked and looked around. A few feet away, Savannah was dragging Lochlan backward by the shirt, out of harm's way.

His mind clearing, Finn jumped in front of his friends. “Get out of here!” Chanting, he hacked at the gold threads. The knife bounced back. He slashed again. This time, a few strands fell away. The web hesitated.

“‘I am the roar of the sea!'” With a shout, Lochlan dashed to Finn's side. Using a two-handed technique, he tore at the net over and over. A few more threads broke. But not enough. Every time they tried to move away, it followed them, hovering as it spread wider and wider. Dimly, Finn could hear Iona laughing.

Suddenly, Rafe attacked. Holding his spear with both hands straight over his head, he crouched low and ran under the web, dragging the tip of the assegai along the underbelly of the shape. The web began to fold on itself as if Rafe's spear had drawn a crease down its middle.

Iona called out in a strange language. One of the threads broke loose. It snaked down and wrapped itself around Rafe's ankles. He crashed to the ground, the wind knocked from his lungs and the assegai from his grasp. As he lay there stunned, gasping like a fish, the net began to settle over him.

“Rafe!” Savannah sprinted forward. She skidded to her knees beside her brother, her knife flashing as she prepared to fend off the mesh. Finn and Lochlan bolted after her.

They're going to get hurt because of me
, Finn thought as he ran.
Just because I wanted to show off. Be the big man
. Guilt burned like acid in his gut.

“
FAUGH A BALLAGH
!”

Turning, Finn's heart leaped at the sound of Gideon shouting the ancient Celtic war cry.

Eyes blazing battle blue, the Knight charged toward them, one hand reaching behind him for a second knife; the first was already in his fist. He pulled his lips back in a wolf-like snarl.

Finn almost laughed when Iona whirled around with a decidedly un-sorceress-like squeak of fright. The web dissolved into a fall of dust, turning Rafe's and Savannah's skin into gilded ebony.

She sprinted through the grass for the tree line, clawing at her pocket as she ran, the Knight a few yards behind her. She yanked out a small pouch and dug inside. Glancing back, she cursed when she saw Gideon gaining on her. With a frantic gesture, she flung a handful of gold dust into the air and disappeared into the glittering cloud.

Slowing, Gideon halted in the middle of the meadow, staring at the spot where she had disappeared. His fists clenched and unclenched around the handles of the weapons. “Are any of you injured?” he asked over his shoulder as the four friends rose to their feet. Rafe rubbed an elbow, then gave a thumbs up. The others shook their heads.

“No, sir,” Finn said. “We're all okay.” He blew out a breath. “Ye gods, it was a good thing you showed up when—” He gulped down the rest of the sentence when the Knight turned to face them. Something in his master's face made him ease back a step.
Oh, crap
. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Mac Roth coming along the trail behind Gideon, whistling a tune. He carried a pair of deer antlers in one hand.

“Look what I found still attached to a kill, Lir.” He waved the horns in the air. “These will fetch a decent price. I know of a craftsman who uses antlers for…” His feet slowed at the sight of the four youths. For a moment, he looked about in confusion.

“Mac Roth, would you and Lochlan escort the twins home?” Gideon nailed Finn with an icy gaze as he shoved one of the knives into his belt sheath. “My apprentice and I will be along shortly.”

Twenty

F
inn watched with a sinking heart as Mac Roth herded the others toward home. Rafe glanced back and gave him an “
it was nice knowing you”
look. For several minutes after they left, he could still hear Lochlan protesting loudly about the missed hunt. When the apprentice's voice faded away, Finn took a deep breath.
Might as well get this over with
. He opened his mouth to speak, then snapped it closed at the sight of Gideon's raised eyebrow.

Without a word, the Knight pointed to the ground in front of him. Dragging his feet through the grass, Finn stepped closer. But not too close. Just in case. He kept his eyes fastened past Gideon's left elbow.

The silence stretched. A grasshopper landed near Finn's toes with a
brrr-cheep
before hopping away. Overhead, a stray cloud drifted between the sun and the earth, pulling its shadow along. He jumped when Gideon spoke.

“Tell me something, Finnegan MacCullen.” His master's voice was eerily composed. “Do you wake up each morning determined to defy me?”

“No, sir.”

“So, this was more of an opportunistic sort of thing. A chance to disobey me comes along and you must embrace it like a brother, eh?”

“No, sir.” Finn licked his lips, suddenly aware of a raging thirst. “Things just…just
happen
before I can stop ‘em.”

“
Things just happen
. That is certainly the finest excuse I've heard for putting one's friends in danger, as well as oneself.”

“But it was Rafe and Lochlan who wanted to hunt. I came along to watch out for them. And Savannah, too.”

Gideon closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “You realize you are tempting me to live
down
to Rufus Steel's expectations of me. I've a good mind to beat you black and blue all the way home.”

Finn gulped. He flinched when his master stepped over and gave him a push toward the trail. Hyperaware of the Knight on his heels, he hurried along as fast as he could. His tongue felt sticky inside his dry mouth.
I wonder if he's going to ground me or—

“
You
, Finnegan MacCullen, are grounded,” Gideon announced behind him.

Yup, I should have known
. “Yes, sir. For how long?”

“One week. During which you'll do naught but chores and training exercises, followed by more chores and more training exercises.”

“What about—”

“No hunting, no visiting the Steels or Lochlan, no television, no music, and if I can find anything else you might possibly take even a
wee
bit of pleasure in, I'll ban that as well. Such as food and water.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, best foot forward.”

They picked up the pace, hiking at the top speed Finn could maintain without having to break into a jog. No matter how careful he was, twigs snapped and leaves rustled under his feet. Behind him, Gideon stalked along as silent as a wolf on the hunt.
How does he move so quietly? In work boots, no less?

Finn sighed. Even as he hurried, Iona's words kept looping through his head. “Um, Gideon?” he began tentatively. Encouraged by the grunt behind him, he continued. “I think Iona knows I'm the Spear.”

“Aye, I've suspected as much. That was most likely why she was trying to capture you with her golden net.”

“But why? She's got some kind of deal with the Amandán. Why would she want, you know,
me
? If she needs protection, why doesn't she just zap them with her magic?”

“I do not know. And do you realize how thin you stretched your luck today?”

Guilt stabbed at him again. “Yes, sir.”

“Why, if I hadn't come along at that moment, she would have captured you and possibly the others. Maybe even hurt them. Or worse.”

Finn nodded miserably.
Yeah, I get it already. Sheesh, stop reminding me
. “How did she even know we were going to be there?” he asked, panting slightly.

“It's a mystery, to be sure. What was she doing when you first saw her?”

He thought for a moment. “Just walking along. Staring at the ground as if she was looking for something.”

Reaching the top of a knoll, Gideon paused, signaling Finn to catch his breath. “Odd that she would be even
be
in the vicinity.” He glanced around, his eyes scanning the shadows.

“So what happens next?”

“We wait for her to make another move. In the meantime, we'll try to determine both why she wants you so badly and what arrangements she's made with the Amandán.”

“Did you and Mac Roth find that other pack?”

“No. But the mine's entrance had been disturbed. It appeared as if someone was trying to get inside of it. Why, I do not know.” He gestured for Finn to continue down the trail.

They were silent the rest of the way home. Finn followed his master through the back gate at their house. A deep rumble greeted them.

“Ah, good—ye didn't kill the boyo after all.” Mac Roth waved from his perch on top of the picnic table, a half-eaten apple in one hand.

As they approached, Finn noticed Lochlan loitering by the corner of the house next to the target.
What's he doing over there?

“I said nose to wall, Lochlan O'Neill,” Mac Roth ordered without looking over. He grinned and, with a satisfying crunch, took another bite of apple.

Blushing as red as his master's beard, Lochlan turned around and faced the side of the house. Finn grimaced in sympathy.
I think I would rather have Gideon knock me upside the head than make me stand in the corner like a little kid
.

“Finn, store the weapons.” Gideon handed his blades over, then joined his friend at the table. “And where are the Steel children?”

“Oh, I sent them home. And yes, they're fine,” Mac Roth said as Finn walked past.

Hurrying inside, Finn hung the knives on the rack, then headed back out. He waited nearby.

“Now, fetch us a cold drink,” Gideon ordered.

Refraining from rolling his eyes, Finn walked back inside. He paused at the sink to stick his mouth under the faucet and gulp down some water before fetching iced tea from the refrigerator and making another trip out the door, this time with a glass in each hand.

“
Sláinte
,” the Knights said in unison, toasting each other with a clink. They both sighed in pleasure after a long pull.

Gideon squinted up at the sky through his half-empty glass. “Why, I believe it's time for luncheon. What say you, old friend? Would you care to break bread with me?”

Keeping a grin firmly hidden in his beard, Mac Roth raised his own glass. “Why, thank ye. A generous offer.”

“Finn. Sandwiches for our guest.” Gideon stabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Smartly now, boyo.”

“Lochlan, go help him,” Mac Roth added. “And be generous with the meat in mine.”

Once inside, Lochlan started to complain. Before he could get two words out, Finn shushed him, then pointed to the screen door and open window.

“I don't want to get in any deeper than I am,” Finn whispered. He pulled out a platter of leftover ham, some cheese, and a container of mustard from the refrigerator. After Finn told Lochlan to get the bread from the cupboard, the two stood at the counter and began slapping sandwiches together.

“Were Rafe and Savannah okay?” Finn asked as he added another layer of ham to Mac Roth's sandwich.

“They're cool.” Lochlan popped a bite of meat into his mouth as he worked. “Savannah was more worried about you getting into trouble.”

Finn blushed. It deepened when the other apprentice elbowed him in the ribs. “She likes you.”

“Only as a friend, so shut up.”
Does she really
?

“Yeah, whatever. So, anyway, what was Iona talking about earlier?” Lochlan topped the mound of sandwich fixings with a slice of bread and pressed down until mustard oozed out on either side. “About the Spear and your blood and everything?”

More heat burned Finn's face.
How do I explain without sounding like…like I'm bragging or making myself out to be some sort of Celtic ninja?
He stilled his hands and looked at the other apprentice. “Okay, before I tell you, I want you to know I didn't choose this or anything. It's not like I want to be…
this
. Okay?”